Decorating Diva: Creating a festive home for the holidays

Jessica Padykula is a freelance writer and editor in Toronto, Canada covering a wide range of topics for several online lifestyle publications. She is a regular contributor for SheKnows, covering travel, style, relationships, health and ...

Let's get festive

Welcome to Decorating Diva, where every week we share fresh, fun ways to update your home and spice up your living space! This week is all about getting into that warm, holiday spirit – by giving your home a festive facelift. We put together some simple and affordable ways to inject your home with some seasonal flair. From outdoor decor to tree-trimming tips, read on for five fun ways to get festive at home.

We got the scoop on holiday decorating trends from Sara Jenkins-Sutton, co-founder of Topiarius Urban Garden and Floral Design. She shares her tips for giving your home a more festive feel this season.

Decorate with outdoor containers

Using outdoor containers throughout the winter can be a great way to add some festive charm to your yard or front porch. "Instead of calling the outdoor planting season over as soon as the first frost arrives, why not consider using your outdoor containers for festive holiday winter displays?" Jenkins says. "Fresh-cut evergreens and branches combined with berries or fresh-cut trees with lights can make your front steps just pop throughout the winter months." If filling your outdoor containers isn't in your budget, just decorating a simple wreath with a ribbon bow and additional items like ornamental balls can make your entry look polished and put-together.

Keep it simple this season

If you love the holidays as much as we do, then you probably know how hard it can be not to go overboard with seasonal decor. But less is more when it comes to creating a festive but stylish space. "A professional design can be achieved when you decorate with fewer items and with quality materials," Jenkins says. "Knick-knacks may be cute in the store, but unless they have a powerful emotional connection, it's time to donate them." A well-decorated mantel can make a room look elegant rather than just having a bunch of items placed randomly all over the room.

Theme your tree

Stumped for tree-trimming ideas? To really pull the room together, Jenkins suggests choosing a theme rather than adorning branches with any old bauble. To get inspired, ask yourself what is it that you love and want to express. If you love the classic Christmas colors of red and green, use that as your starting point. You can also create your theme around styles. Do you want classic, urban chic, modern, playful? "With so many options for ornaments these days, it's impossible to have a humdrum tree," Jenkins says. "From store-bought to homemade, anything goes."

Get personal

Even though you might have boxes of decorations sitting in the basement, Jenkins suggests personalizing your holiday decor with something a little more personal. "Consider creating new traditions that can be done year after year," she says. Growing up, one of her family's holiday activities was to go and pick evergreen ground-cover that they would use to make their own wreaths. Not only did they have fun creating DIY decor, they got to spend quality time as a family. "Just like carving pumpkins or dyeing Easter eggs, it created a special time together," she notes.

Add sparkle

Since it gets dark so much earlier in the winter, Jenkins suggests adding lights not only to your Christmas tree, but anywhere you need some added festive warmth. "Lights can be wound around garlands and wreaths, battery-operated or plug-in lights can be added to all your home's windows and a couple of extra candles can add a coziness and brightness to an otherwise dreary time." If you're willing to take it up a notch, also consider using candle holders that have a natural luminosity, with glitter, gems, or mirrors.